Project Objectives

The project aims to develop a modern and efficient urban transport system in Kigali, enhancing access to jobs and services while supporting urban agglomeration and socio-economic benefits. It will improve connections within Kigali, the rest of Rwanda, and neighboring countries with better climate resilience, access, safety, and institutional capacity. The project focuses on climate mitigation by introducing zero-emission buses, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and fostering a shift from private to lower-carbon transport modes.

Investments in the Nyabugogo Multi-modal transit terminal, Dedicated Bus Lanes (DBL), and non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure will help reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Additionally, the project promotes electric mobility by supporting electric bus adoption and charging infrastructure. This project integrates climate resilience in land use planning, transport master planning, urban road design, and infrastructure development.

The key results of the proposed project will be:

1. Improved access to public transport and services within the Nyabugogo multi-modal transit terminal as well as implemented dedicated bus lanes

2. Modal shift from car dependency to higher capacity public transport system, disaggregated by gender

3. Improved road safety around the Nyabugogo multi-modal transit terminal

4. Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions along the selected corridors in Kigali with the introduction of e-vehicles.

5. Improved resilience to climate change effects including floods.

6. Reduction in Gender disparity in the provision of transport infrastructure and services

7. Enhanced institutional capacity and arrangement in urban mobility management in Kigali

8. Urban mobility strategy for the secondary cities with the identification of flagship urban mobility activities

Environmental and Social Management of the project

The World Bank has categorized the RUMI project with a “Substantial Risk” rating based on the ESS1 and expected potential environmental and social impacts and risks. The substantial risk rating was proposed for the environment as the project aims to promote and invest in the construction of a bus terminal in an area adjacent to a wetland alongside bio-diversity impacts, and modernization of the bus fleet by phasing out existing buses that use diesel/petrol while the same risk rate was given to social considering economic displacement, especially for small operators around Nyabugogo bus park affecting the livelihood of small businesses. It is envisaged that the management of those project-related environmental and social impacts and many others will require application and compliance with the ESF documents: ESMF, RPF, LMP, SEP and ESCP.

1. Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF): The main purpose of the ESMF is therefore to avoid, minimize adverse social and environmental impacts by

a) Establishing mandatory procedures and methodologies for the environmental and social assessment, review, approval and implementation of investments to be financed under this project component;

b) Specifying the roles and responsibilities, and outlining the necessary reporting procedures, for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns related to component investments;

c) Determining the training, capacity building and technical assistance needed to successfully implement the provisions of the ESMF; 

d) Defining requirements for the ESIA/ESMP to be developed during implementation of the project in compliance with relevant laws of Rwanda and the ESF of the World Bank.

Of the 10 ESSs, only 8 are relevant to RUMI Project which include ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts; ESS2: Labor and Working Conditions; ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management; ESS4: Community Health and Safety; ESS5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement; ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources; ESS8: Cultural Heritage and ESS10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure.

2. Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF): In accordance with the WB’s ESS5, this document is a policy framework developed by the GoR to clarify resettlement principles, organizational arrangements, and design criteria to be applied to subprojects to be prepared during the implementation of urban infrastructure under this project. The RF includes brief description of the project and project components; a description of the anticipated subproject types and their locations; the programme implementation arrangements; details of the project and project components for which land for resettlement is required; the principles and objectives governing resettlement preparation and implementation; a description of the process for preparing and approving resettlement plans; census of the population that will be affected and or displaced by the project and likely categories of affected/displaced persons, to the extent feasible; eligibility criteria for defining various categories of affected persons; gap analysis of the fit between Rwanda laws and GoR policies and regulations and World Bank’s ESF requirements including measures proposed to bridge any gaps between them; detailed methods of valuing affected assets; organizational procedures for delivery of entitlements by the government; a description of the implementation process, linking resettlement implementation to civil works; a description of grievance redress mechanisms; a description of the arrangements for funding resettlement, including the preparation and review of cost estimates, the flow of funds, and contingency arrangements; a description of mechanisms for consultations with, and participation of, displaced persons in planning, implementation, and monitoring; and arrangements for monitoring by the implementing agency and or independent monitors.

3. Labor Management Procedures (LMP): The Labor Management Procedures has been prepared by the Government of Rwanda as part of requirements of ESS2 of the WB’s ESF with the aim to set up the mandatory procedures to be followed in the implementation of the RUMI project interventions in relation to labor, health and safety, among other topics.  The agreements, protocols and procedures here described are mandatory for the implementation of RUMI, thus all team members hired and assigned to work in the project will have to become familiar with this document and ensure its application during the project lifetime (5 years). The LMP defines the Labor Management procedures as required by the Environmental and Social Framework of the World Bank, and its Environmental and Social Standard 2 which scope includes 1: Labor and contracts, 2: Management of workers, 3: Occupational Health and Safety and 4: Access of information and grievances mechanisms.

4.Environmentasl and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The ESCP contains all the commitments made by the GoR vis a vis the protection of the environment and preservation of the social welfare of the Project Affected People. The Governments has made commitments against each one of the 8 ESSs that concern RUMIProject as above described. The ESCP contains as well as information on budgets to be allocated to different activities that will be implemented as part of the environment protection and preservation of social welfare including health and safety, labor, training, Stakeholders engagement and GRM.

5. Stakeholders Engagement Plan (SEP): In accordance with ESS10 of the WB’s ESF, the SEP for RUMI is a formal strategy to provide equal opportunities for engagement and participation to the affected, interested, concerned stakeholders to be on the project and to define effective communication strategies with the different project stakeholders.  The SEP will be an operational tool to define the protocols for effectively engaging local and affected communities in the overall project development, disseminate activities, outputs and results, coordinate and hold consultations and develop clear channels of communication of the project to all relevant stakeholders and target audience.  The SEP will also describe the agreed Grievance Mechanisms that will be available for affected/interested/citizen of Rwanda for sending claims, observations, and request to the project team.

Contact Persons:

1. Social Safeguards Specialist

Prudence BIMENYIMANA

Email: pbimenyimana@kigalicity.gov.rw

Tel.: (+250) 784 134 544

2. Environmental Specialist

Richard HABIMANA

Email: rhabimana@kigalicity.gov.rw

Tel.: (+250) 782 347 846

3.City of Kigali (Umujyi wa Kigali)

B.P: 3560 Kigali

Hotel: 3260

Email: info@kigalicity.gov.rw

Website: www.kigalicity.gov.rw